1. Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
MDM in Kerala
April – September 2014
Dr. C. Gasper
Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

2. Display of Logo MDM Logo is found
MDM is given in Private aided & Govt. schools

3. 1. Regularity in serving meal:
Hot cooked meal is distributed to all students
Begins by the second day of schools’ reopening
No interruption during the course of year
Given during exam days too.

4. 2. TRENDS: Extent of variation
extent of variation is ignorable between:
-Enrolment & no. of children opted for MDM,
-no. of children attended school on visit day & no. of children actually availed meals,
- No. of children availing MDM as per MDM register & no. of children availed MDM on visit day
= > 99 %; are ignorable.

5. 3. Supply of food grains to school:
Food grains – rice – comes from Mavali store every month;
It is delivered at school;
school bears transportation cost;
about one-month’s requirement of rice is maintained as buffer stock;
All other items are purchased by the school using the cooking cost;
no complaint about quality of rice or other items
quality of rice is found to be good

6. 4. cooking cost to school: Cooking cost in 2 advanced instalments:
-first 6 months’ (June – November) in May
-2nd instalment in November
e-transfer from DPI to AEO in Blocks;
e-transfer from AEO to school a/c (HM);
HM spends money & then draw from bank a/c after settling a/c every month;
This is a problem to some, not all;
For they borrow from shops

7. In many schools, teachers distribute food;
5. SOCIAL EQUITY:
No discrimination on basis of –gender, caste or community in cooking or serving or seating arrangements in school;
In many schools, teachers distribute food;
children collect food from them in line
Mostly school veranda is used for dining.
In some schools, distribution in classrooms;
In some schools, renovated hall for dining.

8. schools have weekly menu & follow it. It is in head teacher’s office;
6. VARIETY OF MENU:
schools have weekly menu & follow it.
It is in head teacher’s office;
not displayed on notice board in some;
SMC involves in preparation
Consults VEC.
provided for variety;
food differs from day to day.
meal consists: cooked rice + a curry + a side dish.
Milk, eggs & banana given

9. 7. QUALITY & QUANTITY OF MEAL : Feedback from children on
Quality of meal: good
Quantity of meal: adequate
children are happy with the food

10. Free health check-up is organized once in a year
8. SUPPLEMENTARY:
Free health check-up is organized once in a year
health personnel from local PHC visits school occasionally
children are given micronutrients (Iron, folic acid, vitamin-A dosage) & de-worming medicine; but not periodically
Health Card is not visible in schools

11. Cooks and helpers are available at schools
9. STATUS OF COOKS:
Cooks and helpers are available at schools
paid regularly; maximum remuneration Rs.200
they are mostly women
social composition:
Mostly from backward classes;
1/4 from SC/ST
Are above 50 years of age.

12. separate & good kitchen available
10. INFRASTRUCTURE:
separate & good kitchen available
grains stored in a room in school building
potable water for cooking & drinking purposes
All schools have adequate utensils for cooking
Mostly firewood is used in cooking
LPG gas in some schools; used for boiling milk
Old kitchens, constructed some years ago,
Hence renovation required in many.

13. Cooking is quite safe & in hygienic condition
11. SAFETY & HYGIENE:
Cooking is quite safe & in hygienic condition
Cooking shed is away from classrooms
Fire extinguishers available: But not every teacher
cooking process & storage of fuel are safe &
not posing any fire hazard
Fire extinguishers are available in schools.
Children wash hands after eating.
children stand in line to collect the food.
take meals in an orderly manner.
instructed to conserve water.

14. 12.COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION & AWARENESS:
SMC members visit & support –varies
MLA, MP funds, NGOs –lions’ club
13. INSPECTION & SUPERVISION
-nodal officer for each district available
Ensure interaction between school & nodal officer:
Use available resources, eg., water purifiers

15. Concluding observations: -documentation –record of all activities in one -consists of day to day activities: 1) all grants – MDM, MLA, Panchayat 2) SMC meetings, suggestions. 3) all inspections & visitors’ observations 4)special activities, eg. School day celebration 5) PHC/CHC visits & micronutrients medicines 6) medical exam conducted & participation 7) Requests or proposals – made or granted

16. -HMs relieved of teaching, -in-charge for MDM -MME fund: steps to utilise - to make school health programme more effective – height –weight measurements

17. Thanks